2020 Porsche Cayenne
The Verdict
Worst problem area
Engine
Engine leads by volume: 7 of 25 complaints (28%) mention it. Complaints mentioning Electrical include more crash reports (1) than those mentioning any other identified area.
Complaints filed fell from 42 in 2019 to 25 in 2020.
Data last changed . Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology
Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | vs. 2020 Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 3,500–4,550 | 3,700–4,550 | 3,700–4,550 | 3,700–4,550 | 3,700–4,850 | |
| Combined MPG | 17–22 | 17–21 | 17–21 | 17–21 | 16–21 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 14–21 / 21–24 | 15–20 / 19–23 | 15–20 / 19–23 | 15–20 / 19–23 | 14–20 / 19–22 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 432–536 | 427–529 | 432–535 | 432–535 | 466–555 | |
| Complaints filed | 13 | 42 | 25 | 21 | 3 | |
| Recalls issued | 1 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 2 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Injuries reported | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 7 | 4 | 10 | 12 | 11 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 2020 Porsche Cayenne have?
4 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Sep 16, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 2020 Porsche Cayenne?
Engine: 7 of 25 NHTSA complaints (28%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2020 Porsche Cayenne get?
EPA rates it 17–21 MPG combined across 10 configurations.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2020 Porsche Cayenne?
EPA estimates $3,700–$4,550 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (10)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic (S8) | 8 | 4.0L | All-Wheel Drive | Premium | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 15 mpg (low) | 19 mpg (low) | 17 mpg (low) | $4,550 (high) | 529 g/mi |
| Configuration 2 | Automatic (S8) | 6 | 3.0L | All-Wheel Drive | Premium | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 19 mpg | 23 mpg (high) | 20 mpg | $3,900 | 432 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 3 | Automatic (S8) | 6 | 2.9L | All-Wheel Drive | Premium | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 18 mpg | 22 mpg | 20 mpg | $3,900 | 448 g/mi |
| Configuration 4 | Automatic (S8) | 6 | 3.0L | All-Wheel Drive | Premium | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 19 mpg | 23 mpg (high) | 20 mpg | $3,900 | 437 g/mi |
| Configuration 5 | Automatic (S8) | 6 | 2.9L | All-Wheel Drive | Premium | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 18 mpg | 22 mpg | 19 mpg | $4,100 | 460 g/mi |
| Configuration 6 | Automatic (S8) | 8 | 4.0L | All-Wheel Drive | Premium | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 15 mpg (low) | 19 mpg (low) | 17 mpg (low) | $4,550 (high) | 535 g/mi (high) |
| Configuration 7 | Automatic (S8) | 6 | 3.0L | All-Wheel Drive | Premium Gas or Electricity | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 20 mpg (high) | 22 mpg | 21 mpg (high) | $3,700 (low) | 293 g/mi |
| Configuration 8 | Automatic (S8) | 6 | 3.0L | All-Wheel Drive | Premium Gas or Electricity | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 20 mpg (high) | 22 mpg | 21 mpg (high) | $3,700 (low) | 293 g/mi |
| Configuration 9 | Automatic (S8) | 8 | 4.0L | All-Wheel Drive | Premium Gas or Electricity | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 16 mpg | 20 mpg | 18 mpg | $4,300 | 362 g/mi |
| Configuration 10 | Automatic (S8) | 8 | 4.0L | All-Wheel Drive | Premium Gas or Electricity | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 16 mpg | 20 mpg | 18 mpg | $4,300 | 362 g/mi |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Brakes | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Steering | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 7 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (4)
BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA · Campaign 25V896000 · Dec 22, 2025
Defect: Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (Porsche) is recalling certain 2019-2025 Cayenne, Cayenne E-Hybrid, 2020-2025 911, Taycan, 2024-2025 Panamera, and 2025 Panamera E-Hybrid vehicles. The rearview camera image may not display when the vehicle is placed in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Consequence: A rearview image that does not display properly reduces the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will update the driver assistance software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 13, 2026. Owners may contact Porsche customer service at 1-800-767-7243. Porsche's number for this recall is ASB2. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning January 19, 2026.
SEATS; AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER · Campaign 21V318000 · May 5, 2021
Defect: Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (Porsche) is recalling certain 2021 Cayenne GTS, Cayenne GTS Coupe, 2020-2021 Cayenne Coupe, Cayenne S Coupe, Cayenne E-Hybrid Coupe vehicles. The passenger seat back heating element was not installed and may impact the calibration of the Occupant Classification System.
Consequence: The front passenger air bag may fail to deploy, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will install a heating element, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 25, 2021. Owners may contact Porsche customer service at 1-800-767-7243. Porsche's number for this recall is AMB0.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:COOLING UNIT AND LINES · Campaign 20V271000 · May 13, 2020
Defect: Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (Porsche) is recalling certain 2020 Cayenne vehicles. An insufficient weld on a transmission oil pipe may cause the vehicle to leak automatic transmission fluid (ATF).
Consequence: If transmission fluid leaks while driving, the road surface may be made slippery, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Porsche will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the transmission oil pipe and replace it if necessary, free of charge. The recall began September 8, 2020. Owners may contact Porsche customer service at 1-800-767-7243. Porsche's number for this recall is ALA5.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL; SERVICE BRAKES · Campaign 19V735000 · Oct 16, 2019
Defect: Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (Porsche) is recalling certain 2017 Panamera 4, Panamera Turbo, Panamera Turbo Executive, 2017-2018 Panamera, Panamera 4S Executive, Panamera 4S, 2018 Panamera Turbo S Hybrid, Panamera 4 Hybrid Sport Turismo, Panamera 4 Sport Turismo, Panamera Turbo S Hybrid Sport Turismo, Panamera 4 Hybrid, Panamera 4 Executive, 2019 Cayenne Hybrid, 2019-2020 Cayenne, Cayenne S, Cayenne Turbo, 2020 Cayenne Coupe, Cayenne Turbo Coupe, and Cayenne S Coupe vehicles. The instrument cluster may not provide a visual warning when the brake pads are worn out. As a result, these vehicles fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 135, "Light vehicle brake systems."
Consequence: If the driver is not alerted when brake pads are worn out, the vehicle may not respond as expected when braking, increasing the risk of crash.
Remedy: Porsche will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the instrument cluster, free of charge. The recall is began December 13, 2019. Owners may contact Porsche customer service at 1-800-767-7243. Porsche's number for this recall is AKB8. Note: This recall supersedes recall 19V115 and includes vehicles that were previously remedied under that campaign.